Geography Information | Geography Programs | Geography Courses
Bachelor of Arts in Geography (code GEOGBA01) (120 units)
Requirements
A grade of “C” or better must be achieved in all upper division Geography Courses.
The Geography major requires at least 39 units of which at least 9 must be at the 400 level. These units are broken down into two broad categories:
Lower Division: 12 units required (GEOG 100 or 120 or 160; GEOG 140; GEOG 200; and GEOG 280).
Upper Division: 27 units required, which must include at a minimum: GEOG 340 or 355I, GEOG 360 and 380, one Regional course (see list below) and an additional 12 units within one Concentration (Human Geography, Environmental/Physical geography, Geospatial Techniques, or Global and Regional Studies).
Major Concentrations and Grouping of Geography Courses
The CSULB Geography Department encourages geography students to acquire knowledge of the breadth of the discipline, to develop an understanding of the regional and systematic approaches to studying and applying the discipline, and to become proficient in the application of methods of inquiry and analysis that are employed in the discipline. To facilitate the development of a prepared and well rounded geographer, Geography courses are grouped into Human Geography, Environmental/Physical Geography, Geospatial Techniques, and Global and Regional Studies. Students are urged to complete courses in each cluster and to seek the advice of the undergraduate advisor and other faculty to identify courses that are best suited to meet their educational and career objectives. In addition, programs may be tailored to meet the needs of individual students especially those choosing to double-major.
Environmental/Physical Geography: GEOG 340, 355I, 440, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447, 455, 458
Human Geography: GEOG 319I, 352, 360, 366, 381, 452, 460, 465, 468, 470
Geospatial Techniques: GEOG 400, 402, 473, 474, 475, 481#, 482, 484, 485, 486, 487A, 487B, 488
# GEOG 481 is eligible only to students concentrating outside
Geospatial Techniques
Global and Regional Studies:
Global Studies Courses: 319I, 352, 355I, 452, 460, 468, 470.
Regional Courses: GEOG 304, 306, 308I, 309I, 313I, 314I, 315I, 316, 318, 320, 326
Additional Courses
The following courses may be included in the above concentrations with approval of the Undergraduate Advisor: GEOG 492, 494, 497.
Minor in Geography (code GEOGUM01)
The Minor in Geography is available to any non-Geography major.
The minor requires a minimum of 18 units consisting of GEOG 140; 100 or 120 or 160; and 280 or 380, and at least 9 units of upper division courses with at least one course selected from the 400 series.
Certificate in Geographic Information Science (code GEOGCT01)
Director
Franklin Gossette
Associate Directors
Christopher Lee, Suzanne Wechsler
Requirements
This program offers specialized training in a variety of theoretical and applied geospatial techniques. The program is designed to provide experience in quantitative spatial analysis through GIS, working with remotely sensed imagery and field-derived data, and effective communication through maps. The certificate serves as a supplement to standard degree programs. It provides essential training for those seeking careers in the geospatial technologies in both the public and private sector.
A brochure describing the GIScience Certificate Program in greater detail is available in the Geography Department Office, LA 4-106, or on-line at www.csulb.edu/geography.
Certificate Requirements
1. A bachelor’s degree, which may be earned concurrently.
2. Consultation with the certificate advisor in the Geography Department.
3. Thirty (30) units distributed as follows:
A. Core requirements (15 units): GEOG 380, 482, 473, 485/585
B. Specialization (12 units, selected from the following with the approval of Certificate Advisor): GEOG 400, 474, 475/575, 484/584, 487A/587A , 487B/587B, 488/588, 680, 494, 497, 697
C. Elective (3-4 units): Any course chosen from the Specialization courses listed above or the following: GEOG 381, 481, 492 (chosen with the approval of the Certificate Advisor); a course in databases, chosen with the approval of the Certificate Advisor; a course in graphic design, chosen with the approval of the Certificate Advisor; a course in surveying and mapping, chosen with the approval of the Certificate Advisor.
Certificate in Urban Studies (code GEOGCT02)
The Urban Studies Program, housed in the Department of Geography, offers an education in the analysis of urban patterns, processes, and issues, and serves as an excellent supplement to standard degree programs. It offers essential training for those seeking both private sector and public sector careers or graduate study in fields concerned with the urban region, its development, characteristics, problems, and special communities.
Because urban issues cut across a variety of disciplines, the program takes an interdisciplinary approach. Each student participates in a small core of courses in Geography and Political Science but also assembles a distinctive mix of related courses from a variety of departments. The result is a customized program that provides essential information about the dynamics, form, and characteristics of urban regions while allowing a student to design an individualized program of study.
A brochure describing the Urban Studies Certificate Program in greater detail is available in the Geography Department Office, LA 4-106, or on-line at www.csulb.edu/geography.
Certificate Requirements
1. A bachelor’s degree, which may be earned concurrently.
2. Consultation with the undergraduate advisor in the Geography Department.
3. 24 units distributed as follows:
Core requirements, 9 units: U/ST 301I (same as GEOG 301I), GEOG 466 and 467 or POSC 327
Elective Courses, 15 units, to be selected from the following: AIS 319 (same as ASAM 319, B/ST 319, CHLS 319, W/ST 319); ANTH 416; ASAM 345; BIOL 303 (same as GEOL 303); B/ST 335, 452; DESN 367; CAFF 322, 422, 428; GEOG 446 (same as U/ST 446); HIST 468, 469, 474I; POSC 327, 442; W/ST 432.
Master of Arts in Geography (code GEOGMA01)
Prerequisites
1. A bachelor’s degree in geography; or,
2. A bachelor’s degree with 24 units of upper division courses substantially equivalent to those required for a geography major at this University; or,
3. A bachelor’s degree in a related discipline with 24 units of upper division courses in a combination of geography and approved courses in related disciplines,
4. Completion of introductory methods course,
5. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 ("B") or better in geography, or alternative evidence of ability to do graduate work,
6. File with the department a declaration of intent to seek the master’s degree in geography.
Advancement to Candidacy
1. See the Geography Graduate Student Handbook;
2. See the general University requirements.
Requirements
1. Completion of courses required to remove foundational and prerequisite deficiencies (see prerequisites above),
2. Fulfillment of the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR),
3. Completion of 30 units of approved upper division graduate courses. A minimum of 24 units of Geography courses. A minimum of 18 units of 500- and 600-level courses, which must include GEOG 586, 596, 696, 1 additional seminar, and 6 units of thesis (GEOG 698).
Grouping of Geography Courses
The CSULB Geography Department encourages geography students to acquire a knowledge of the breadth of the discipline, to develop an understanding of the regional and systematic approaches to studying and applying the discipline, and to become proficient in the application of the methods of inquiry and analysis that are employed in the discipline. To facilitate the development of a prepared and well rounded geographer, Geography courses are grouped into: Regional Geography, Human Geography (Human or Environmental), and Geospacial Techniques Geography. Students are urged to complete courses in each cluster and to seek the advice of the undergraduate advisor and other faculty to identify courses that are best suited to meet their educational and career objectives.
Global and Regional
GLOBAL:
319I. International Development
352. Geography of Travel and Tourism
355I. International Environmental Issues
*452. Geography of the Global Economy
*460. Population Geography
468. World Cities/Cities of the World
*470. Political Geography
REGIONAL:
100. World Regional Geography
304. California
306. United States and Canada
307. Modernization in Global Perspective
308I. Africa South of the Sahara
309I. The Middle East and North Africa
313I. Southeast Asia
314I. South Asia
315I. East Asia
316. Europe
318. Russia and Its Neighbors
320. Latin America
326. Pacific Island Area
Human Geography
120. Geography of Human Diversity in the United States
160. Introduction to Human Geography
301I. Urban Life and Problems
319I. International Development
352. Geography of Travel and Tourism
366. Introduction to Urban Geography
*381. Maps and Civilization
*446 Land Use Planning
*452. Geography of the Global Economy
*460. Population Geography
465./565. Social Geography
*466. Urban Geography: Principles
467./567. Urban Geography: Metropolitan Problems
468. World Cities/Cities of the World
*470. Political Geography
Environmental/Physical Geography
140. Introduction to Physical Geography
340. Environmental Geography
355I. International Environmental Issues
440./540. Land and Water Environments
*442. Biogeography
443. Watersheds: Processes and Management
*444. Climatology
445. Palaeoclimatology
447. Landscape Restoration
*455. People As Agents of Environmental Change
458./558. Hazards and Risk Management
Methods and Techniques
These courses develop skills in graphic and statistical communication and field analysis which are used within the various sub-fields of the discipline.
200. Introduction to Research Methods for Geographers
280. Introduction to Geospatial Techniques
380. Map Interpretation and Analysis
*400. Geographical Analysis
402.. Qualitative Geographic Analysis
*482. Thematic Map Design for Presentation and GIS
*473. Remote Sensing
*474. Introduction to Digital Image Processing
484./584. Advanced Concepts in Presentation Cartography
485./585. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
*486. Field Methods in Landscape Analysis
488./588. Geographic Information Systems
General
*492. Internship in Applied Geography
*494. Special Topics
*497. Directed Studies